Comparing Will Muschamp’s first full haul to others’
Feb. 11, 2017
For South Carolina coach Will Muschamp – or any other college football coach – there’s one key ingredient when it comes to recruiting.
“It’s all about relationships in recruiting and people understanding you and what you’re about going forward,” Muschamp told reporters last week, after the Gamecocks announced their 24-man signing class.
“They’ve seen a product on the field. Now they have an idea of what we want to be in all three phases, and they have an idea of what we’re going to do academically here. They have an idea of what we expect socially here as far as our program is concerned.”
On the first Wednesday in February of 2016, about two months after he was hired as the new head coach at South Carolina, Muschamp introduced his first signing class, which ended up as the No. 25-ranked group in the country.
Twelve months later, the Gamecocks reeled in the nation’s 21st-ranked class.
“I think, of the 24 guys we signed, 22 of them were in our camps this summer,” Muschamp said, “And that’s huge to be able to coach them exactly the way we’re going to coach them when they get here in the fall, so they understand what’s going to be expected of them.
“They understand how they’re going to be coached on the field as well.”
OrTre Smith enrolled at South Carolina in January. (Mike Wilson/SEC Country)The top-rated prospects in the South Carolina class will play at skill positions, cornerback and wide receiver.
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star CB
Jamyest Williams
74
8
4-star WR
OrTre Smith
130
19
4-star ATH
Shi Smith
222
9
Below is a look at how some other coaches – past and present – fared after one full year on the job. National rankings are in parenthesis.
Steve Spurrier – South Carolina 2006 (34)
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star OT
Clarence Bailey
102
6
4-star DT
Kenrick Ellis
128
8
3-star OG
Garrett Anderson
283
14
Bailey signed, but he never enrolled at South Carolina because of academics.
Ellis played as a redshirt freshman before his dismissal from the program. He parlayed a nice career at Hampton into several seasons in the NFL.
Anderson was a multi-year starter along the interior of the Gamecocks offensive line, mostly as a center.
The class also included 3-star safety Darian Stewart, who’s been in the NFL since 2010.
Dabo Swinney – Clemson 2010 (28)
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star WR
Martavis Bryant
116
5
4-star WR
DeAndre Hopkins
193
25
3-star CB
Garry Peters
328
22
Bryant didn’t qualify out of high school and had to push back his enrollment to the following year. Once on board, he, Hopkins and others helped Clemson form a dangerous group of wide receivers.
It took a little time for Peters to emerge as a dependable player, but when he did, he was an All-ACC performer.
Three-star tight end Vic Beasley bounced around at a couple of different positions before settling in at defensive end. He led the NFL in sacks this past season for the Atlanta Falcons.
SECCOUNTRY
Feb. 11, 2017
For South Carolina coach Will Muschamp – or any other college football coach – there’s one key ingredient when it comes to recruiting.
“It’s all about relationships in recruiting and people understanding you and what you’re about going forward,” Muschamp told reporters last week, after the Gamecocks announced their 24-man signing class.
“They’ve seen a product on the field. Now they have an idea of what we want to be in all three phases, and they have an idea of what we’re going to do academically here. They have an idea of what we expect socially here as far as our program is concerned.”
On the first Wednesday in February of 2016, about two months after he was hired as the new head coach at South Carolina, Muschamp introduced his first signing class, which ended up as the No. 25-ranked group in the country.
Twelve months later, the Gamecocks reeled in the nation’s 21st-ranked class.
“I think, of the 24 guys we signed, 22 of them were in our camps this summer,” Muschamp said, “And that’s huge to be able to coach them exactly the way we’re going to coach them when they get here in the fall, so they understand what’s going to be expected of them.
“They understand how they’re going to be coached on the field as well.”
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star CB
Jamyest Williams
74
8
4-star WR
OrTre Smith
130
19
4-star ATH
Shi Smith
222
9
Below is a look at how some other coaches – past and present – fared after one full year on the job. National rankings are in parenthesis.
Steve Spurrier – South Carolina 2006 (34)
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star OT
Clarence Bailey
102
6
4-star DT
Kenrick Ellis
128
8
3-star OG
Garrett Anderson
283
14
Bailey signed, but he never enrolled at South Carolina because of academics.
Ellis played as a redshirt freshman before his dismissal from the program. He parlayed a nice career at Hampton into several seasons in the NFL.
Anderson was a multi-year starter along the interior of the Gamecocks offensive line, mostly as a center.
The class also included 3-star safety Darian Stewart, who’s been in the NFL since 2010.
Dabo Swinney – Clemson 2010 (28)
Star rating
Name
Overall rank
Pos. rank
4-star WR
Martavis Bryant
116
5
4-star WR
DeAndre Hopkins
193
25
3-star CB
Garry Peters
328
22
Bryant didn’t qualify out of high school and had to push back his enrollment to the following year. Once on board, he, Hopkins and others helped Clemson form a dangerous group of wide receivers.
It took a little time for Peters to emerge as a dependable player, but when he did, he was an All-ACC performer.
Three-star tight end Vic Beasley bounced around at a couple of different positions before settling in at defensive end. He led the NFL in sacks this past season for the Atlanta Falcons.
SECCOUNTRY